Serious Fraud Office: Prosecutions and Convictions

Lord Phillips of Sudbury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many cases have been prosecuted by the SFO in each of the last five calendar years, and how many have resulted in convictions.

Lord Goldsmith: Serious Fraud Office statistics are recorded by trials completed in each reporting year (5 April to 4 April). The table below shows the results for the last five years:
	
		
			 Financial Year (April to April) Trials prosecuted in year Number of Defendants in Trials completed Number of convictions in trials completed (by defendant) 
			 1998–99 18 38 31 
			 1999–2000 8 12 11 
			 2000–01 24 58 51 
			 2001–02 8 13 10 
			 2002–03 14 25 17 
			 2003–04 3 5 4 
			 Total 75 151 124

Iraqi Prisoners of War

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 6 May (WA 134), whether they will act in accordance with the obligations imposed under the Geneva Convention, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights in their treatment of Iraqi prisoners within their custody, including the transfer of Iraqi prisoners to the custody of the United States authorities.

Lord Bach: In treating Iraqi prisoners within their custody, United Kingdom forces will act in accordance with all the relevant obligations under international law. This includes any transfer of Iraqi prisoners to the custody of the United States authorities. As we have indicated before the arrangements agreed with other coalition partners make clear that prisoners captured by the UK will not be removed from Iraq without our agreement.

C17 Aircraft

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is their intention to purchase or lease additional C17 aircraft.

Lord Bach: The Ministry of Defence is examining the best means of meeting the Armed Forces' strategic airlift needs in the light of the new chapter to the Strategic Defence Review and the military campaign in Iraq. However, no decisions have yet been made regarding the procurement or leasing of additional capability.

Iraq: Oil

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions they have had with the United States administration on the need to avoid (a) the impression that Iraqi oil wealth is being used to fund American companies to enable them to repair damage done by the coalition; and (b) the impression that there is a long term strategy for foreign control of the industry; and what was the outcome of any such discussions.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have frequent contact with the US administration on a wide range of issues relating to Iraq, including oil. Both we and the US have made clear on many occasions that Iraqi oil belongs to Iraq and that it should be used for the good of the Iraqi people. The resolution which we and the US put before the UN Security Council envisages a role for an international body to ensure transparency in expenditure of Iraqi oil revenues.

Home Office Spending: Tackling Drugs and Crime

Baroness Hilton of Eggardon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have for simplifying and streamlining Home Office funding to enable crime and disorder reduction partnerships to tackle crime and drugs in their community.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I am pleased to announce that we are putting in place a single, flexible crime fighting fund to help local agencies better tackle crime and drug-related crime. The new Building Safer Communities fund brings together into a single funding stream funding that was previously provided through three separate crime reduction programmes: the Communities against Drugs Programme (CAD), the Safer Communities Initiative (SCI) and the Partnership Development Fund (PDF).
	Funding for these three programmes in 2003–04, and hence for the new single fund, formed part of the package of funding to tackle crime and drug-related crime, amounting to £190.2 million in total, announced by David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, on 21 January 2003. £94 million of this funding was for use by the 376 crime and disorder reduction partnerships (CDRPs) and drug action teams (DATs) across the country to help them tackle crime and drugs in their communities. £82.3 million of this is now being made available to CDRPs under the Building Safer Communities Fund and the remainder, separately, to DATs.
	In announcing the new funding for CAD, the SCI and the PDF in January, the Home Secretary indicated that he wished to consult with local groups—those at the sharp end, including CDRPs, DATs, voluntary groups and national bodies concerned with crime reduction—about whether they wished to see a merger of these programmes in order to reduce the bureaucratic burden on them, thereby allowing them to concentrate on delivery rather than paperwork. There was clear support for the idea of a merger and a single pot of funding but a strong wish to ensure that the level of drugs spend was maintained.
	Practitioners have been aware for some time that plans were being drawn up for this new fund, and activities are already well under way to spend the money, with many already drawing down grant and progressing their work. My department will today be issuing administrative guidance on how the new fund will operate and formal conditions of grant.
	This is a three year funding programme and CDRPs can expect to receive the same levels of funding in 2004–05 and 2005–06. My officials are devising monitoring procedures to ensure that accountability at CDRP level for their spend, including that on drugs crime, is fully preserved, and that the balance of spend between the different aims of the CAD programme is maintained.

Charity Commission: Spring Departmental Report

Baroness Hilton of Eggardon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the Charity Commission's spring departmental report for 2003.

Lord Filkin: I am today announcing the publication of the Charity Commission's spring departmental report for 2003. Copies of this report are available in the Library.

Family Visitor Appeal System

Baroness Hilton of Eggardon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the report on the review of the family visitor appeal system.

Lord Filkin: In January 2001, we announced a review of the family visitor appeal system introduced under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. The review was undertaken by officials from United Kingdom visas, the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Home Office, HM Treasury and the Legal Services Commission. A discussion exercise was held towards the end of 2001, and research was commissioned from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate to inform the review.
	I am pleased to announce that the final report of the review team is published today, and has been placed in the Library of the House.

Road Lighting

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will encourage the Highways Agency and local authorities to redesign over-lit roads and road junctions and introduce full cut-off lighting to stop light going upwards.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Highways Agency lights roads in accordance with the British Standard for Road Lighting, BS5489. This provides for sufficient but not excessive light to enable people to use the roads safely. Local authorities also light roads to the British Standard.
	The Highways Agency already installs modern low-spillage luminaires when providing new lighting schemes or renewing ones. These reduce the amount of light emitted directly upward.
	The Government have published advice on good street lighting practice to reduce sky glow and light pollution generally, as has the Institution of Lighting Engineers.

Railway Safety

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current estimate of the value of preventable fatality of installing the European rail traffic management system level 2 on lines on which the train protection and warning system will already have been installed.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The European rail traffic management system (ERTMS) year 1 progress report, published by the Strategic Rail Authority and the Rail Safety and Standards Board on 19 May 2003, does not state a value of preventing a fatality (VPF) figure. The report states that the total cost of implementing ERTMS level 2 system D is now estimated to be £3.7 billion over 40 years, and that overall ERTMS will deliver an estimated £7.5 billion worth of benefits over that period, of which an estimated £347 million comes from safety benefits. A copy of the report is available in the House Library.

Transport Act 2000: Implementation

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to bring into effect Section 16A of the Transport Act 2000, and what is their explanation for the delay of nearly three years.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Sections 16A-I of the Railways Act 1993, as introduced by Section 223 of the Transport Act 2000, will be implemented once a number of exemptions from the new provisions it will put in place are completed. The exemptions are expected to be finalised shortly and hence permit commencement of the new provisions.

Sensitive Lorry Miles

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of reports by Arup Transport Planning and LEK Consulting which were used by the Strategic Rail Authority to inform their conclusion on sensitive lorry miles published in May 2003.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Strategic Rail Authority has published its conclusions and a paper, Sensitive Lorry Miles: Results of Analysis, which summarise the findings of the consultants' reports. A copy of that summary is being placed in the Libraries of the House.

Bull Bars

Lord Harris of Haringey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, to their knowledge, vehicles are being imported from outside the European Union with bull bars; and whether they will consider legislation to ban (a) the importation of vehicles fitted with bull bars and (b) retro-fitment of bull bars.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: We do not have figures for vehicles imported from outside the European Union with bull bars fitted but we would expect the number to be small, given that a commitment not to fit rigid bull bars covers many non-European car manufacturers.
	The most effective way of controlling after-market bull bars is via technical standards in European legislation. We have submitted a technical proposal to the Commission setting out how this could be achieved. We expect the Commission to bring forward its proposals on controlling such bull bars later this year.

Blue Badge Scheme: Supermarket Enforcement Powers

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will introduce legislation to permit supermarkets to clamp vehicles parked in a disabled person's space without displaying a valid Blue Badge.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Blue Badge Scheme and the enforcement powers to protect it do not apply to off-street car parks. There are no plans to change that position.
	Vehicles can be clamped on private land, but the legality depends on the circumstances of the particular case and whether the clamper has acted reasonably in the protection of private property rights. Off-street car parks are private property and the conditions of use are a contractual matter between the owner and the motorist.
	There are other ways of tackling abuse in off-street car parks, which are set out in a factsheet which is available from the Department for Transport. In addition we are also working closely with, and supporting, the Baywatch campaign, which is committed to encouraging more protection of disabled persons' parking bays in retail car parks from abuse by non-disabled drivers. My response to the noble Baroness in answer to (HL3131) provides further details.Joan

Blue Badge Scheme: Supermarket Enforcement Powers

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What recent discussions they have had with the main supermarket chains in England and Wales about the misuse of disabled persons parking bays by motorists not displaying a valid Blue Badge.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Although the Blue Badge Scheme does not apply to off-street car parks (such as supermarket car parks), the Government have offered their full support to Baywatch, a coalition of the four main supermarkets (Asda, Safeway, Sainsbury's and Tesco) and disability organisations, who are committed to encouraging more protection of disabled persons' parking bays in retail car parks from abuse by non-disabled drivers.
	Following meetings with the campaign representatives, the Department for Transport has provided £15,000 towards a national feasibility study on awareness/enforcement of disabled persons' parking bays in the supermarket car parks. A report will be produced later this year on the findings of the study, at which stage consideration will be given to how best to take forward the project.

Railway Penalty Fares

Viscount Astor: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why rail travel between Stansted Airport and London has been excluded from the penalty fares regime; and
	What are the reasons for the penalty fares regime being reintroduced for rail travel between Gatwick Airport and London stations; and
	Whether the Strategic Rail Authority was consulted about and approved (a) the penalty fares regime exclusion from Stansted Airport to London and (b) the reintroduction of the penalty fares regime from Gatwick Airport to London; and
	Whether the Strategic Rail Authority consulted the London Transport Users Committee on the issue of the rail penalty fares regime from Stansted and Gatwick Airports to London.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Train operating companies are free to decide whether or not to apply penalty fares. Those that wish to charge penalty fares must submit a scheme for approval to the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). The scheme has to comply with the Penalty Fares Regulations made by the Secretary of State for Transport and the Penalty Fares Rules made by the SRA. The approval process includes consultation with the relevant rail passengers committee and passenger transport executive. The London Transport Users Committee was consulted on all the London area penalty fares schemes, including Thameslink and South Central. Thameslink and South Central charge penalty fares on most of their networks, including on their services between Gatwick and London. Gatwick Express and WAGN's dedicated London—Stansted Express service have decided not to operate a penalty fares scheme.

Channel Tunnel: Safety Checks

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What safety checks are carried out on the Channel Tunnel; and by whom.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Channel Tunnel operator, Eurotunnel, has primary responsibility for ensuring the safe operation of the Channel Tunnel system. In order to fulfil this responsibility it undertakes a wide range of safety checks on all aspects of its operations. Its safety performance is monitored by the independent, binational Channel Tunnel Safety Authority on behalf of the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission (IGC).
	The safe operation of through passenger and freight services is the responsibility of the train operators Eurostar UK Ltd and SNCF (for passenger services) and English, Welsh and Scottish Railway International (EWSI) and SNCF (for freight services).
	To ensure a coherent approach throughout the system, safety inspections in the Channel Tunnel are carried out jointly by inspectors from both the British and French authorities, appointed jointly by the Channel Tunnel IGC and the Safety Authority. On the British side, these inspectors are drawn from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Kent and Medway Towns Fire Authority, and the Kent County Constabulary.
	Eurotunnel's updated safety case, with (as supporting documents) the safety cases of the three train operators whose services currently run through the tunnel, was accepted by the Channel Tunnel IGC in February 2003.

Intelligence and Security Committee: Annual Report

Lord Tomlinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to lay the Intelligence and Security Committee's annual report for 2002–03 before Parliament.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Government are grateful to the Intelligence and Security Committee for its valuable work and its latest annual report. Following consultation with the Intelligence and Security Committee over matters which could not be published without prejudicing the discharge of the function and operation of the intelligence and security agencies, the report will be laid before the House today. Copies will also be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

3.4GHz Fixed Wireless Access Licences

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the terms and conditions of the 3.4GHz broadband fixed wireless auction provide for licence terms of 15 years; whether successful bidders are not required to provide bankers' guarantees; and whether they are not under any obligation to roll out services within the period of the licence.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The terms and conditions of the 3.4GHz Public Fixed Wireless Access licences are as follows. Licences are issued for an initial duration of five years. The licensee will have the option to renew the licence for up to two further periods of five years. Bankers guarantees are not required as payment must be made in full at the start of each period. No roll-out obligations are included in the licences.

Libraries

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What help has been given to local authorities to create, replace or redevelop libraries in the last five years.

Baroness Blackstone: Local authorities are statutorily required to provide a public library service under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act. Local authorities receive funding for those public libraries for which they are responsible through general grant and through council tax. General grant has this year increased by some £2.4 billion, which is an increase of 5.9 per cent. Government grant to councils has increased by 25 per cent in real terms since 1997. It is for local authorities to decide how to spend the funds available.
	Local authorities seeking to build new libraries can apply to the DCMS for private finance initiative credits, and the award-winning new central library in Bournemouth was funded by a PFI project.

West Antarctic Ice Sheet

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What recent studies they have made of the West Antarctic ice sheet and of the consequences of its collapse; and what were their conclusions on necessary international action to meet any such threat.

Lord Whitty: In research commissioned by Defra, an interdisciplinary panel of experts were asked to summarise the state of scientific knowledge and uncertainty and estimate the risk of a sea level rise of over four metres due to the collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet (WAIS). The study revealed a wide range of opinions on the stability of the WAIS and concluded that it would most likely not collapse in the next few centuries, although they estimate a 50 per cent probability of WAIS causing sea level rise of at least 10mm per year within 200 years. There is still much uncertainty about the behaviour of the WAIS: whether it is still adjusting to changes after the last ice age and how it will respond to climate warming and contribute to sea level rise. Both the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the Hadley Centre continue to assess the impacts of climate change on ice sheets both in the Arctic and the Antarctic through observational and modelling studies. The collapse of the WAIS over a period of centuries would raise sea levels by some six metres with a major impact on low-lying countries and coastlines.
	International action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the Kyoto Protocol is the first step in a long process to reduce emissions enough to stabilise greenhouse gases at a level which avoids dangerous anthropogenic climate change. There is however no international consensus as to what that level should be. The EU has proposed that carbon dioxide concentrations below 550 parts per million should guide emission reduction efforts, but what level would be required that to avoid loss of the WAIS is a matter for further research.

Fisheries: No Take Zones

Lord Hunt of Chesterton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the light of the achievement of the Lundy fisheries no take zone, how widely they will apply the no take zone tool; what the legislative basis of the tool will be; and how they will support such initiatives of local communities in the future.

Lord Whitty: No take zones are one of the range of tools available to fisheries managers and each needs to be considered on a case by case basis. The size of the no take zone, the fish present and patterns of fishing activity are among the factors to be considered in assessing such proposals.
	The department has grant aided a voluntary shellfisheries no take zone off St Agnes Head, put forward by Cornwall County Council with the support of local fishermen. Another proposal to identify further the potential for no take zones around Cornwall is under consideration.
	The legislative basis for a no take zone could be a Sea Fisheries Committee byelaw, as in the case of the Lundy no take zone, or national or EU legislation.

Customs and Excise: Detection of Meat Smuggling

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many additional mobile anti-smuggling detection teams and trained dogs have been deployed by HM Customs and Excise since 11 April when they took over responsibility for anti-smuggling controls on meat.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: To tackle its new responsibilities Customs plans to add an additional four mobile strike force teams of detection staff and an additional four meat detector dogs to the two the department inherited from DEFRA.
	Since 11 April, and while recruitment of the new teams is progressed, Customs has adjusted deployment priorities to deal with illegal imports of meat using existing static and mobile teams of anti-smuggling detection staff. The existing meat detector dogs and handlers transferred to Customs on 1 May have also been deployed.

Customs and Excise: Detection of Meat Smuggling

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many convictions for the smuggling of illegal meat have been recorded on the central database of HM Customs and Excise since 11 April.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: No convictions for the smuggling of illegal meat have been recorded by Customs since 11 April and it is too early to say whether inquiries into certain seizures made since 11 April will result in prosecutions.

NHS: Management Costs

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the rationale for excluding non-staff overhead costs from the definition of National Health Service management costs.

Baroness Andrews: The most rigorous method for measuring the cost of management would be to start with the definition of the activities that constitute management. The amount of time each member of staff spent on those activities would then be calculated and costed but even if a list of activities could be agreed upon, such a method would be prone to subjectivity and inconsistent application. It would also be extremely time-consuming and bureaucratic to undertake. The method adopted is based on management posts.
	Not all the running costs of primary care trusts and National Health Service trusts cover activities that are classed as management, unlike strategic health authorities and former health authorities, whose management cost definition includes elements for both staff and non-staff costs as their running costs do cover activities that are classed as management.

Seroxat

Lord Tomlinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is new advice on the treatment of depressive illness in children and adolescents under 18 years.

Baroness Andrews: Following interest in both Houses about the issues surrounding the safety of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including Seroxat, we are informing the House of new advice from the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) against the use of Seroxat in children under the age of 18 for the treatment of depressive illness.
	New data from clinical trials in children and adolescents were received by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) at the end of May 2003. These new data have been reviewed by an expert working group on SSRIs and the CSM. These data do not demonstrate efficacy in depressive illness in this age group and show an increase in the risk of events including episodes of self-harm and potentially suicidal behaviour in the Seroxat group compared to placebo. Various analyses suggest that the risk of these events is between 1.5 and 3.2 times greater with Seroxat compared to placebo. On the basis of these data, CSM has advised that the balance of risks and benefits of Seroxat is unfavourable when used to treat depressive illness in this age group. CSM has advised that Seroxat should not be used in children and adolescents under the age of 18 years to treat depressive illness. Ministers have accepted the committee's advice.
	Seroxat is not and never has been licensed for use in those under 18 but it is used in this age group outside its licensed indications where prescribers make a judgement on their own responsibility that it is the right treatment for a particular patient.
	SSRIs, including Seroxat, have been under close continuous review by the MHRA and the CSM for a number of years with the CSM issuing advice in 2000 and 2001. The product information for SSRI antidepressants already contains advice that suicidal thoughts and behaviour are likely to increase in the early stages of treatment of depression (as with all antidepressants) and patient information leaflets already contain advice to seek medical advice urgently in the event of such symptoms.
	The recent concerns expressed by patient groups and in the media over the safety of Seroxat have been taken very seriously. In response to concerns of an association of Seroxat with withdrawal reactions and suicidal behaviour, a new expert working group of the CSM has been convened to further review the safety of SSRIs and to ensure the advice in the product information for both patients and prescribers is optimal for the safe use of these products. This group will be incorporating the experiences of patients in its safety evaluation.
	Communications to patients and prescribers are taking place today. The expert working group of the CSM, convened to look at the wider issues relating to the safety of SSRIs, will examine urgently what implications, if any, these new findings have for the use of Seroxat in adults and for other SSRIs. The benefits of taking Seroxat are well established and patients over 18 and patients who are benefiting from Seroxat should not be frightened into stopping their medication. Patients who are experiencing any side effects or are concerned about their treatment should discuss these with their doctor.
	The Government are committed to ensuring that the wider aspects of suicide prevention remain at the top of the agenda and the National Institute for Mental Health in England has made suicide prevention one of its core policy programmes.